Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. The National Carp Control Program

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

The National Carp Control Program

  • Newsletter
  • Biosecurity
23 March 2023

Carp are one of the country’s most devastating pests and dominate the Murray Darling Basin, making up to 80 to 90 per cent of fish biomass. Carp impact freshwater ecosystems across Australia, with significant negative effects on water quality, the amenity value of our freshwater environments and biodiversity.

Image of a carp swarm
Carp Swarm. Credit: Matt Barwick

The Australian Government committed $15.2 million to investigate the feasibility of using the Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (the carp virus) as a potential biocontrol agent for carp as part of a long-term biological control program. As part of this funding, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) undertook a collaborative research program to assess the use of the carp virus. In late 2022, the FDRC completed the National Carp Control Plan (NCCP), the culmination of six years’ work involving eleven national and international research institutions and over 40 research scientists. The NCCP represents the largest body of research ever undertaken to evaluate the possible use of a biological control agent for an aquatic pest.

The research program underpinning the NCCP made several key contributions to increase our knowledge of the virus. For example, it demonstrated that the virus will not affect humans or other mammals and increased our understanding of the susceptibility of non-target native fish. It also confirmed the importance of direct transmission of the virus between carp and delivered tools to improve knowledge in the area of genetic resistance. The NCCP outlined uncertainties regarding the release of the virus and provided recommendations for further work, including an evidence base to help decision makers determine next steps.

The NCCP is only the first step of several important stages needed to adequately consider the release of the carp virus. The department is facilitating the process to enable all Australian governments to formally consider the NCCP and the next steps in the program. In deciding to proceed further with the program, all governments will need to be satisfied that the virus is safe; that it will be effective in significantly reducing carp populations for the medium- to long term; and that virus release will be cost-effective.

Any potential release of the virus is expected to take several years, and will not occur without further research, implementation planning, regulatory approvals, agreement from all relevant jurisdictions, and extensive stakeholder consultation.

For more information of the NCCP and next steps visit: http://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/pest-animals-and-wee… and the FRDC’s website https://www.frdc.com.au/knowledge-hub/national-carp-control-plan.

Read more articles from our Three Chiefs Newsletter

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Related

Image of 12 eggs, two partly wrapped in white plastic or paper, with a ruler at the bottom of the image

Be a good egg this Easter and bring chocolate only

  • Newsletter
  • Biosecurity
14 April 2025
Image of seeds in a petrie dish, with a ruler in the background

Don’t let seeds cost your pocket and Australia’s environment

  • Newsletter
  • Biosecurity
09 April 2025
Image of an assortment of shipping containers and a machine being used to unload them

Updating industry on our biosecurity import clearance reforms

  • News
  • Biosecurity
08 April 2025
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 24 March 2023

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram